VI 



was no other method by which it could be adapted to the use of 

 young persons learning the elements of Natural History. Some of 

 the views contained in the original edition have been since proved 

 unfounded, and these it was necessary to correct. In some parts 

 of it are details of great length, and often irrelevant to the sub- 

 ject, which it was thought proper to abridge or exclude; and 1 

 trust that, upon a fair comparison of it with this edition, I shall 

 appear to have taken no greater liberties than were necessary to 

 fit it for the purpose for which it is principally intended the 

 instruction of the young. 



The whole Introduction, as was observed above, has been pre- 

 pared by the editor, with the exception of a few passages, distin- 

 guished by inverted commas, which are retained from the original 

 work. In the body of the book, those passages which have 

 been added, or which have been entirely remodelled or rewritten, 

 are distinguished by single inverted commas; quotations from 

 other authors being marked in the usual way by double inverted 

 commas. 



J. W 



Boston, January, 1824. 



In th Second, Third, Fourth, and Fifth Editions, no alterations, 

 except of a merely verbal nature, have been made. 



J. W 

 Boston, March, 1834. 



